The 30-year-old from Glasgow, released by Norwich City, was on loan with Cardiff at the end of last year and made two appearances for the Bluebirds.

This looks certain to be the final signing for City before the end of this transfer window.

Lappin, who has signed an 18-month deal, is seen as cover for left-back Andrew Taylor, although he can also play on the right.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be signing for Cardiff City on a permanent deal," Lappin told Cardiff City Player.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my loan spell here with a great squad of lads.

"The manager, staff and everyone at the Club have been fantastic with me and when I heard they wanted me back here on a permanent deal it was an easy decision to return.

“January has been a bit disrupted with the F.A. Cup fixtures splitting the Championship calendar. But we’re all chomping at the bit now to face Leeds at their place on Saturday afternoon where we’ll have to be on top of our game once again to get the result.

“We’ve got a lot of challenges coming up and we need to be ready every time we step out there now to achieve what we want to.”

Stephen McPhail and Robert Earnshaw are both available to go out on loan, but are unlikely to move before the end of this month.

But a new loan window opens a week into February and either could go out at that stage.

Meanwhile, promising Cardiff midfielder Kevin Saint-Luce has had his contract terminated by the club. The news comes on the back of a recent court case in which the 19-year-old admitted assaulting a woman.